Outlet box



L. KELLNER Oct. 6, 1931.

OUTLET BOX Filed June 27, 1925 SEQ Patented (let. 6, 1 931 PATEN Price LOUIS KELLNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JEFFERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINCIS OUTLET BOX Application filed June 27, 1925. Serial No. 39,928.

The present invention relates to improvements in junction or outlet boxes commonlyv provided with ears or brackets which are se-v cured directly to the woodwork or base struc- 15 ture underlying the plaster. To adapt boxes of standard construction to different thicknesses of plaster, the supporting ears or brackets are usually adjustable thereon.

The primary object. of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for securing the supporting brackets to the outlet box, whereby the brackets can be easily and quickly adjusted on the box, and are held securely in adjusted position.

A further object is to provide means for positioning the supporting brackets on the outlet box and holding them against displacement. even though they are but loosely clamped in position.

Still another ob 'ect is to secure the brackets to the box by fastening means permanently attached to the latter thereby avoiding the use of detachable fastening means such as screws and the like which are likely I to become lost and which are inconvenient to handle.

I accomplish the above objects by provid ing inter-engaging notches in the box and the brackets which serve to locate the brackets selectively in different adjusted positions, and by providing clamping members rotatably mounted on-the box and adapted to be moved into and out of clamping engagement with the brackets.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of an outlet box embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view showing one of the supporting brackets in a reversed position on the box.

Fig. 4 is a sect-ional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 8.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that, I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but intend to cover all modifications'and alternative constructions falling within the spirit andscope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the outlet box may be of any suitable shape or form, and is shown-as comprising a U-shaped plate 5 and two side plates 6 and 7 fitting against the opposite side edges of the first mentioned plate, said plates preferably being stamped and shaped from sheet metal. The side plates 6 and 7 are removably secured to the central plate 5, and to this end each side plate is formed at opposite ends with a tongue 8 and a notch 9 fitting respectively into a notch 10 and over a lug 11 on the adjacent edge of the central plate. A screw 12 threaded through the lug 11 engages the outside of the side plate, and serves to hold it in place. A pair of lugs 18 are bent outwardly from the end edges of the central plate 5 to provide means for securing the face plate (not shown) to the box. Knock-out plugs 14 are provided in the walls of the box, and are adapted to be removed to leave openings for the conduits (not shown).

The box is adapted to be mounted in the wall ofa building with the front edges flush with the surface of the plaster or wall. To support the outlet box in position, a pair of end brackets are provided. Preferably each bracket comprises a body portion 15 adapted to fit against the supporting structure and having a pair of apertures 16 for the fastening screws ordevices (not shown), and a pair of spaced legs 17 bent at right angles to the body portion and fitting against one end wall of the box. The body portion is cut away at 18 between the legs 17 to provide a space for the adjacent lug 13.

To secure the legs 17 to the box they are formed with longitudinal slots 19, preferably closed at both ends. A pair of clamping members 20 are rotatably mounted in the end wall of the box, and extend outwardly through the slots 19. The inner end of each clamping member 20 preferably is riveted, and the outer end is provided with a lateral cam projection 21 having an inclined cam surface on its inner edge adapted to engage either side edge of the associated slot 19 to clamp the bracket to the box. The outer end of the clamping member 20 is formed with a notch adapted to receive the tip of a screwdriver or other suitable tool (not shown) for revolving the cam projection 21 into register with the slot 19 to permit removal or adjustment of the bracket, or into engagement with the leg 17 to clamp the bracket in the desired position. It will be evident that the brackets are reversible on the box, in that the legs 17 can extend forwardly as shown in Fig. 2, or rearwardly as shown in Fig. 3, and that by reason of this reversibility and of the provision of the slots 19, a wide range of adjustment is obtained permitting the front edge of the box to be located at the desired distance from the supporting structure.

To hold each bracket securedly in adjusted position, the adjacent edges of the legs 17 are formed with a series of teeth or notches 24 engaging oppositely disposed teeth or notches 25 formed on a pair of spaced plates 26 on the box. The plates 26 may be secured to the box in any suitable manner, and in the present instance are partially stamped out of the material forming the wall of the box. Preferably, the notches are of considerably greater width than the notches 24;, the present ratio being two to one. Slipping of the brackets is prevented by the notches 24: and 25, even though the legs 17 are but loosely clamped in position.

It will be evident that I have provided a rigid and secure means which is simple and inexpensive in construction for adjustably securing outlet boxes to a supporting structure. The means for securing the brackets to the out-letbox is easily and quickly manipulated, and being permanently mounted on the box is not liable to become lost or diflicult to handle. Slipping of the brackets due to defective fastening is avoided.

I claim as my invention:

1. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a pair of legs fitting against said box, said legs being formed with slots and with notches on their edges, the notches on each leg being aligned in parallel relation to said slots, plates on said box having notches engaging said first mentioned notches to position said bracket selectively in different positions of adjustment on said box, and a pair of clamping members permanently and rotatably secured to said box, one of said clamping members extending through each slot and being adapted to be rotated into and out of interlocking relation with the associated leg.

2. An outlet box having, in combination, a bracket tit-ting against said box, said bracket having an elongated slot and being formed with notches aligned in parallel relation to said slot, a plate on said box having notches for engaging said first mentioned notches, a clamping member permanently and rotatably secured to said box and extendin through said slot, said clamping member naving acam surface adapted to be moved into regis tration with said slot to permit adjustment of said bracket on said box and adapted to be moved into clamping engagement with either of the side edges of said slot to clamp said bracket in adjusted position.

3. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a leg fitting against said box, said leg being formed with an elongated slot, means for locating said leg selectively in different positions on said body, and a clamping member rotatably secured to said box and extending through said slot, said clamping member having a head formed with an inclined cam surface adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the side edges of said slot to clamp said leg against said body and in coacting relation with said locating means.

4. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a pair of legs fitting against said box, said legs being formed with slots and with notches, the notches on each leg being aligned in parallel relation to said slots, plates on said box having notches for engaging said first mentioned notches to position said bracket selectively in different adjusted positions on said box, and clamping members extending through said slots and for securing said bracket to said box in adjusted position.

5. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a leg fitting against said box, said leg being formed with an elongated slot, a fastening member secured to said box, said member extending through said slot and being movable into and out of engagement with said leg, a plurality of notches formed on said leg, and a plurality of notches on said box for engaging said first mentioned notches to position said bracket on said box.

6. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a leg fitting against said box, said leg being formed with an elongated slot, a clamping member rotatably secured to said box and extending through said slot, said clamping member havin a head formed with an inclined cam surface adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with an edge of said slot.

7. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a leg fitting against said box, said leg being formed with a slot, a fastening cam member permanently secured to and freely rotatable in one wall of said box, said member extending through said slot and being rotatable into and out of clamping engagement with said leg, and 1roneans for positioning said bracket on said 8. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a supporting bracket having a pair of spaced slotted legs fitting against said box, said legs and said box being formed with inter-engaging notches adapted to locate the bracket selectively in different positions, and means extending through said legs for clamping said bracket to said'box.

9. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a part fitting against said box, means on said box and said part adapted to interlock when said part fits against said box in one of a number of positions, and a cam member swivelled in said box and rotatable into engagement with said part to clamp said part to said box with said means in interlocking engagement.

10. An outlet box having, in combination, a box, a bracket having a part fitting against said box, said part being serrated along one edge, a coacting part on said box, said coacting part being serrated along one edge for inter-fitting engagement with said first mentioned edge to locate said bracket selectively in difierent positions of adjustment on said box, and means for securing said first mentioned part to said box.

11. An outlet box having, in combination,

a box, a projection on one wall of said box, a fitting having a part adapted to be p0- sitioned against said wall, said projection and said part being formed with a series of non-yielding inter-fitting projections for locating said part selectively in difierent positions of adjustment on said box, and separate means for removably clamping said part to said box with said projections in interfitting engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

LOUIS KELLNER. 

